Kubota Fujiwara

The Kubota Fujiwara were a branch of the proud Fujiwara family and the rulers of most of northern Honshu. They had influence as far as the other end of Honshu, but sparred with their own family (the Hiraizumi Fujiwara) and also made enemies with the Kamakura Minamoto, resulting in their subjugation in 1188.

History
Divided from the Hiraizumi Fujiwara, the Kubota were originally allies with their estranged kinsmen, but in 1178 a split occurred between the two factions of the powerful Fujiwara family, resulting in a civil war between Fujiwara Motofusa of Kubota and Fujiwara Hidehira of Hiraizumi. Kubota Fujiwara forces captured Sendai and brought Miyagi Province under their control, and the Hiraizumi were surrounded by both the Kubota and the East China Sea. The only thing stopping the Hiraizumi from defeat was the intervention of the Kamakura Minamoto, who invaded Kubota lands in 1188. Minamoto Yoritomo, aided by his Hiraizumi allies, captured Sendai and in autumn 1188 captured the city of Yamagata and thus Uzen Province. Motofusa arranged to become a vassal in exchange for 3,000 koku and Minamoto Tanefusa as a hostage. When the Kenkyu War broke out in 1190, the Kubota backed Emperor Go-Toba and executed Tanefusa.